On March 8, 2024, we celebrated International Women’s Day, and in June, we’ll recognize International Women in Engineering Day. However, I couldn’t wait until June to acknowledge some exceptional software engineering talents. Allow me to shine a spotlight on two remarkable Aviatrix software engineers who have been hailed by the leadership team as integral to the company’s engineering success. Given that engineering forms the bedrock of Aviatrix’s cloud networking platform, their skillset, technical acumen, and unwavering problem-solving abilities are no small feat. Moreover, their ability to unite teams and collaboratively tackle intricate customer challenges adds to the pressure they handle with grace.
Without further ado, let’s meet Aviatrix’s seasoned software engineers: Li Yan and Shanshan Xu. These composed and accomplished engineering experts have made significant contributions since Aviatrix’s early days, inspiring their peers to persevere through tight collaboration and unwavering determination.
In a recent Q&A session, Li and Shanshan share their career journeys, offer advice to women interested in cloud networking, and reveal what they find most rewarding about working in the cloud and at Aviatrix.
Say Hello to Li and Shanshan!
Li Yan, Senior Principal Engineer TL/M, Software Development
“Much like female aviators who broke barriers in aviation, I encourage young women entering the field of software engineering to embrace technology, innovate, and empower themselves. Believe in your abilities, be passionate about the technology that you are interested in and be willing to overcome obstacles to make the impossible possible.”
You’ve had a successful career at Aviatrix for nearly a decade. What drew you to join a startup company that was bootstrapped at the time?
I cannot believe I am about to celebrate my 10-year work anniversary at Aviatrix. In 2014, Sherry Wei, the founder of Aviatrix and a former Cisco manager, asked me to join her at the company. I was excited to be part of a cloud networking startup that had the potential to lead and drive the next generation of networking technologies. While I had experience at various startups throughout my career, I recognized that moving from Cisco to Aviatrix would be a pivotal moment. I knew the work would undoubtedly be challenging and demanding, but the prospect of being a founding engineer, spearheading innovations in networking, and shepherding a product from its infancy to completion would be incredibly fulfilling.
In 2014, Aviatrix launched its first product aimed at assisting customers in extending their data centers to Amazon Web Services (AWS). The following year, Microsoft Azure invited Aviatrix to their Ignite event where they showcased stateful firewall features, effectively integrating Aviatrix into the multicloud landscape. Around 2017, the introduction of AWS Transit VPC/Transit Gateway architecture marked a significant turning point. This development provided Aviatrix with an opportunity to deliver a unified and optimized network infrastructure across all cloud service providers (CSPs). Witnessing Aviatrix’s transformation from having a small customer base to growing it to an impressive 500+ enterprise customers today, has been nothing short of an extraordinary journey.
I recently spoke with the engineering’s leadership team. They credited you and three other female engineers for being the glue of the engineering team. Hearing this, how does this make you feel?
I appreciate the recognition. I have always believed that the heart of any successful company lies in the people—their passion, their skills, and their shared purpose. My approach to management centers around empowering engineering teams to focus on customers while collaborating as one team. With the ongoing support from our leadership team, we are able to closely engage with field support and marketing to tailor solutions that meet our customers’ needs. For example, during a private mode project, we worked closely with a large multinational payment card services customer, making swift adjustments to our design, and we landed and grew alongside the customer. We often work on a tight schedule to fulfill our commitment to customers but by dividing and conquering tasks across teams, we have won multiple new customers.
What motivated you to pursue a career in software engineering and cloud networking?
My dad was an electrical engineering professor for many years at a top engineering university. It was my childhood dream to follow in his footsteps. I even attended the same university he had gone to.
What guidance would you offer to young women who possess an inclination or curiosity about pursuing education or developing the necessary skillset to become a software engineer?
Much like female aviators who broke barriers in aviation, I encourage young women entering the field of software engineering to embrace technology, innovate, and empower themselves. Believe in your abilities, be passionate about the technology that you are interested, and be willing to overcome obstacles to make the impossible possible. For those who may not know, Aviatrix means female pilot and Aviatrix’s founder, Sherry Wei, was a female entrepreneur.
How do you maintain work/life balance in such a demanding and fast-paced job?
I have learned to prioritize tasks and incorporate breaks, such as taking a walk. I find walking to be incredibly relaxing, and, on the flip side, many ideas have emerged during these walks.
What quote inspires you?
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs
Shanshan Xu, Principal Architect TL/M, Software Development
“The engineering leadership team has been incredibly supportive of me and the extended engineering group. Knowing that they fully trust my judgement and allow me to take charge of many core areas, makes it even more rewarding. Cloud networking brings a lot of technical challenges and I enjoy working to solve them.”
You have had a successful career at Aviatrix since 2017. What attracted you to take the leap from Cisco to a startup?
I worked at Cisco for nearly a decade. The technology was very mature. I grew increasingly unchallenged. Nothing excited me. It was time for a change, and I sought new opportunities. At that time, cloud was becoming such a hot area and there were more opportunities sprouting up. While at Cisco, I knew Sherry Wei, a very respected and talented engineering manager, who left to start Aviatrix in 2014. I did not have the opportunity to collaborate with her during my tenure at Cisco. However, I was acquainted with a software engineer [Li Yan] who left Cisco and went to work at Aviatrix. I had several conversations with Li and ended up landing a job at the company. I was extremely excited to join Aviatrix. As a startup company, the work style was refreshing and offered boundless potential to learn, explore, and grow. I learned so much during those early years and that continues today.
The engineering leadership acknowledges you and three other female engineers as the cohesive force within the engineering team. Hearing this, how does this make you feel?
I am happy to hear that. It is a testament that they recognize and value my contributions. The engineering leadership team has consistently been supportive of me and the extended engineering group. Knowing that they fully trust my judgement and allow me to take charge of many core areas, makes it even more rewarding.
What is your academic background and how did you get into software engineering?
I earned a BS in Precision Instrumentation in Beijing and as the U.S. offers the best graduate education in the world, I left China to come here to pursue a Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering. After earning my Ph.D. in 2006, I quickly realized that I longed to solve real problems rather than conducting research in the academic field. It was at that time, that I changed my career trajectory and ventured into the high-tech industry.
What advice would you give to young women aspiring to pursue a career in software engineering?
I would tell them to be confident. Know that girls are equally as good as boys in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). There is no area designated just for boys. Work hard as your future success depends on the effort you put in today.
What have you enjoyed most about working at Aviatrix?
Cloud networking brings a lot of technical challenges and I enjoy working to solve them. It gives me a sense of accomplishment when my team and I deliver a feature that solves customers’ problems. Aviatrix offers an open and collaborative environment. I have built such wonderful friendships with many of my colleagues. Aviatrix has a unique opportunity in the cloud networking market, offering true multicloud networking and security that no other vendor is able to deliver. I have tremendous faith in our leadership team and that they are taking the company in the right direction. Working at a cloud networking company also has other benefits. It gives me the flexibility to work from anywhere as long as there is internet connection. I am not bound to an office or lab, and I do not need to worry about equipment, commuting, etc.
What motto resonates with you and serves as your inspiration?
Now is better than never.
BONUS QUESTION
Prominent cloud networking figure, David Linthicum, recently penned an article, “Women in Cloud Computing” that explores strategies for increasing female representation in the field and shares his insights. Care to share your thoughts?
“The statement that truly strikes a chord with me from the article is: ‘Women in the cloud: It’s no longer solely about social justice; it’s about corporate survival.” I firmly believe that companies must invest resources to encourage more women to explore cloud computing education. In doing so, we can address the shortage of cloud talent.”—Li
“The men to women ratio in cloud computing still has a way to go but we are going in the right direction. In my opinion, tech companies, especially in the Bay Area, are very friendly to women. There are many successful female engineers enjoying fruitful careers today, including myself.”—Shanshan
Hear how other employees are thriving at Aviatrix—Employee Spotlights. View the Careers page for the latest Aviatrix job openings.
